At Byron Family Dental, our gentle dental professionals can remove your troublesome wisdom tooth and relieve you of pain!
What are wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth are the final set of teeth that begin to form at the back of your upper and lower jaws around your late teens or early twenties.
In some instances, the way in which the wisdom teeth develops and the position of them while they grow could lead to complications in the future.
If there are complications associated with the growth of the wisdom teeth, it is highly recommended by our dental professionals at Byron Family Dental that you have them removed.
What is the function of our wisdom teeth
During the time of our ancestors, the diet that was followed consisted of raw meat, nuts, roots, berries, and leaves. At the time, there were no knives to cut up the food and prepare them for cooking, in fact, cooking meat was not even an option.
They had no option but to chew this tough, coarse, and hard foods with their teeth. In order to completely break down the food into smaller particles and prepare it for swallowing and digestion, a broader jaw and strong molars were required, this included their wisdom teeth.
All three molars, which also includes the wisdom teeth, where used to eat and break down food, and were extremely important and necessary to survive back in the time of our ancestors.
Our ancestors also had larger jaws to accommodate the growth of their wisdom teeth. Therefore, their wisdom teeth did not grow abnormally since there was enough space in their mouth for the teeth to erupt and remain permanently.
Are wisdom teeth important? Do we really need them?
People of today are able to cut, prepare and cook all the food that they eat. The food is not tough and can easily be broken down into small particles for swallowing and digestion.
It is believed that the jawlines of people today have become much smaller and less broader over the years because of the difference in the way food is prepared, cooked and consumed.
Two sets of molars are sufficient enough to breakdown the foods that we consume. Therefore, we could conclude that there may be no need for the third set of molars (the wisdom teeth)
Due to our jawline being much smaller than before, there is hardly any space to accommodate the growth of the wisdom teeth (the third set of molars). There may be complications associated with their growth if we allow them to erupt.
Problems associated with impacted wisdom teeth:
- Impacted wisdom teeth can cause jaw pain and headaches.
- It could cause an infection or gum disease.
- Impacted wisdom teeth could cause a cyst to develop which can lead to severe pain.
- It could cause your gums to become red, swollen, tender or bleed.
- It could also cause surrounding teeth to decay or become damaged.
- Impacted wisdom teeth could cause your jaw to swell up and you may have difficulty opening your mouth.
- With impacted wisdom teeth, you could experience a nasty taste in your mouth or bad breath.
When is it absolutely necessary to remove a wisdom tooth
- Wisdom teeth may be removed if they are causing damage to the other teeth that surround them.
- They would also need to be extracted if they are misaligned during their developing stages.
- We highly recommend a wisdom tooth removal if they are stuck within your gums and have stopped growing. If they not removed it could cause your gums to become very painful, sensitive and cause discomfort.
- A removal of your wisdom teeth is also suggested when there is not enough space behind the existing molars for them to grow. This will have a negative impact on their growth.
- Since your wisdom teeth are situated right at the back of your mouth, it may be difficult to clean and brush them properly. This could cause plaque and bacteria to accumulate on your teeth and gums.
- Eventually, this could cause your teeth and gums to become infected and decay. This is another reason why a removal is recommended.
- A wisdom teeth removal is also advisable when the teeth become misaligned.
How are wisdom teeth removed
- A local anaesthetic is given to numb the area that is going to be treated.
- If your wisdom teeth have not yet erupted, a small incision is made to access them.
- The teeth are then cut into smaller pieces to help remove it from the small opening.
- Once all the pieces of the wisdom teeth are removed, our dentist will then gently stitch up the opening.
There would be no need for an incision if the wisdom teeth have already erupted through the gums. An extraction will then be performed by rocking the teeth back and forth until they are loosened and ready to be pulled out.
Wisdom Teeth Removal in Byron Bay
Do you need your wisdom tooth to be extracted? Our dentists are here to help and advise you on the best possible solution after your tooth has been examined. Please contact us at Byron Family Dental for more information on our treatments.